Friday, November 27, 2009

Argyle Applique Ornament Tutorial

I think I have already expressed my love for plaid but I'm also quite fond of the equally classic argyle. These were so much fun to make and it would be a perfect first project for someone who wanted to try applique. The stitching is so basic that embroiderers of all skill levels could take this on. Plus, it is simple enough that you could stitch it up while watching "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ some evening this holiday season. So, without any further delay here’s how it’s done:

You will need:A pattern printout (available here)Three different cotton fabrics (I used red and aqua kona cotton and brown corduroy)Fusible web (I use Wonder Under but heat n’ bond works well too)Stabilizer (optional)A three-inch wooden embroidery hoop (I can usually find these at my local Hancock Fabric store but they are also available on-line)Embroidery floss in two colors of your choiceAn iron, scissors, and pencil

On the printout you will find a pattern for the appliques, a number list for organizing your pattern pieces, and a stitch guide template. You can configure your colors any number of ways. When I made mine I searched around online quite a bit for an argyle "rule" about how the colors should be arranged and found that there was a lot of variety out there. So I just picked a configuration that I liked and went with it. You can use the same or come up with your own.

You will need to decide which fabric will be the base fabric (I chose the aqua for mine) upon which you will iron your appliques and which two fabrics will be the appliques. For the base fabric I use a square that is about 7 x 7 inches. For the other two fabrics you will really only need about a 4 x 4-inch piece.Once you decide which fabrics you want to go where you can use the number list to help keep track of your pieces. Next, you will be tracing the applique pieces onto the fusible web. If it’s easier for you to cut out your pattern pieces and then trace them, do that. If you prefer to just trace them directly from the pattern that works as well.(normally you would reverse your pattern before tracing but for this design it doesn’t matter)

So, now you have a piece of fusible web for each of your two applique fabrics. Follow the directions that come with the fusible web and iron the two pieces onto the backside of your two different fabrics.

Once the fabric has cooled carefully cut out your pieces.

Now this part is fun. Peel off the paper backing and arrange your pieces in their correct configuration. Of course you don’t have to peel off the paper backing first but I always hate to get things positioned correctly only to have to pick them back up again to peel off the paper on the back.Carefully iron your appliques pieces. This activates the adhesive and bonds them to your base fabric.

Next use a lightweight stabilizer and trace the stitch guide onto it. Position it onto your fabric and pin (or iron, depending on the stabilizer) it into place. Then you are ready to stitch your lines.* You can also use an air erase fabric marker to draw you lines on too – whatever method you prefer will be fine)* blogger insists that this photo be inserted sideways and no amount of futzing on my part could fix it - I apologize for that!I used three strands of floss in two colors. I used one color for the lines going in one direction and the other color for the lines going in the other direction but again, you can decide how you want to do that part.After you stitch your lines carefully remove the stabilizer.

You can be done at this point but I like to add some backstitching along the edges as well.

Finally, you can place your embroidery in the 3-inch hoop and trim the excess fabric.I usually tuck the edges under and adhere them to the hoop with some adhesive.

Add a ribbon and you are done! You did it!I hope you will enjoy this project, I sure did. Let me know if you have any questions or problems with these instructions. I’m still learning how to put tutorials together so if there is anything that is not clear just let me know and I will do my best to correct it. Thanks!

I absolutely love these! So cute and looks like they'll be fun to make! Can I make a request to see how you finish off the back for projects that stay in the hoop? :-) I've been trying to see how different people do it, and since I love your attention to detail, i'm so curious how you finish off the back! Thanks!

I am pretty partial to argyle myself (let's not get started on the sock drawer). These are so cute and adaptable. PS- I HATE it when Blogger decides to turn a perfectly good photo sideways... they should have a rotate feature;)

Corinne,I wanted to post a link and photo to this adorable tutorial on my blog but I saw that you ask people to request permission to use your photos so I did not. I also couldn't find any email address to contact you.

Thank you so much for this utterly fabulous tutorial. We made this for my son's teacher because they frequently wear their argyle sweaters to school on the same days. To a first grader that is HUGE! When I showed him this ornament he begged me to male it for him...anyway...the rest of the story is here: http://eclecticchica.blogspot.com/2009/12/teacher-gifts.html But I just wanted to say THANK YOU. We love it. Happy Holidays!

I work with Kristin on the Sew,Mama,Sew! blog (http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2). Each November we post a series of tutorials, gift suggestions, recipes, shop features and giveaways every day. Our 4th Annual Handmade Holidays series consists of a great assortment of ideas to make the holidays unique, fun and handmade.

We'd like to use one picture from this tutorial next month!

We'll link to your site and give you all of the credit, of course! Would this be OK? We respect the copyright of all crafters so all links and photos from blogs on our Handmade Holidays posts are used with permission. If you'd like to learn more about Handmade Holidays please see this compilation post from 2009: http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=3808.

Please let me know via email, (irene@sewmamasew.com), and also feel free to include any relevant information you'd like me to post with the tutorial link.

I added this project and thumbnail to our site and linked to you. We are looking for more Christmas project as well as other projects, so if you have any similar projects please feel free to let me know. Juliajlitz@primecp.comEditor, www.AllFreeChristmasCrafts.com